Coaster



July 4, 1961 PIRMAN 2,990,968

COASTER Filed Dec. 7, 1959 INVENTOR. EDWARD PIRMAN ATTY nited States Patent 2,990,968 COASTER Edward Pinnan, 199 Good Ave., Wadsworth, Ohio Filed Dec. 7, 1959, Ser. No. 857,700

2 Claims. (Cl. 215-1005) This invention relates to coasters, and more particularly to coasters 'adapted'for firm,fbut removable attachment, to beverage containers such, for example, but without limitation thereto, as bottles, cans or drinking glasses.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a coaster that maybe conveniently removably attached to a beverage container, of the type that is retained in the hand while the liquid is being drunkdirectlyfrom the container,v that will collect moisture that becomes condensated. on the outer wall of the container and flows downwardly, or liquid that may inadvertently be spilled over the edge of the container.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a-coaster having cushioning means on its bottom to avoid breakage of fragile containers or injury to surfaces with which the container would normally come into contact.

Another object is to provide a coaster that is attractive, convenient to wash, and economical to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be manifest to those familiar with the art by reference to the following specification and the accompanying drawing.

In the accompanying drawing which is illustrative of preferred constructions embodying the principles of the invention:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a coaster embodying the present invention and shown as it would appear attached to the bottle illustrated;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view, drawn to a larger scale of the coaster shown in FIGURE 1 with the wall of a container shown to illustrate the contact of the pleats with a container;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the coaster shown in FIGURE 2 with a portion of the coaster removed to more clearly illustrate the pleated wall;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional elevation taken on line 4-4 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view similar to FIGURE 2 but showing a modified form of the coaster shown in FIGURE 1 and embodying the present invention; and

FIGURE 6- is a view similar to FIGURE 4 except showing the coaster of FIGURE 5.

Referring now to the drawing in more detail it will be seen that the present invention comprises a relatively shallow one-piece cup-like body referred to generally as 10. Body 10 is composed of rubber-like material, a flexible plastic or any other material having suitable resilient or flexible characteristics. The coaster is adapted to receive and firmly grip in removable relation the bottom portion of the side of a beverage container for which it has been designed. Body 10 is provided with a substantially flat bottom 11 from which two cushioning ribs 12 and a sinuous wall 13 rise. In the first extent 14 of wall 13 adjacent bottom 11 the wall curves radially outwardly and axially upwardly, and then a further extent 15 in a reverse curve radially inwardly and axially upwardly, said wall extent 15 merging into a pleated wall portion having pleats 16 and extending in a curve radially outwardly and axially upwardly to the rim 17 of the body 10. As will be seen by reference to FIGURE 3 pleats 16 begin in the curved portion 15 of the wall 13 and extend longitudinally without interruption to the marginal edge 17. Preferably the pleats are small relative to the length of rim 17 and are uniform in size and disposed without interruption about the top portion of said body.

It will-now be seen that the smallest diameter of the cup-like coaster 10 is defined by radially inward surfaces of pleats 16 at said pleats greatest extent radially inwardly of the coaster'as'at point'A. It is to be understood that the size of the coaster is determined by the size of the beverage container for which it is designed p as, for example, the smallest diameter of the coaster is made an amount smaller than the outside diameter of the container which it contacts so that it is-necessary for the bellows-like pleats 16 to be expanded when the bottom portion of 'saidcontainer is forced into the coaster. The expansion of the pleats cause them to grip the container firmly ,and to retain the coaster in operative position thereon, until intentionally removed by forcibly pulling the coasteroff the container.

By reference to FIGURES 2 and 4 it will be seen that a during the coasters attachment to a beverage container that its upper edge 17 is flared away from the outer wall of the container thereby providing an upwardly facing recess18 encircling the container into which recess any fluid flowing down the outer wall of the container will enter and be conducted from said recess between pleats 16 and the container into the space 19 defined by the portion 14 of wall 13 and the container. It will also be seen that ribs 12 provide a cushion stop for the bottom of the container whereby breakage of fragile containers and injury to surfaces of furniture is avoided when a container is placed on such surfaces with considerable force.

The modification of the invention illustrated in FIG- URES 5 and 6 departs from the construction described heretofore only in respect to the location of the pleats and the form of the rim of the coaster.

By reference to FIGURES 5 and 6 it will be seen that a coaster referred to generally as 30 has pleats 31 which are similar to pleats 16 of FIGURE 3 but differ in that pleats 31 terminate a distance from rim 32 providing a smooth flared top portion to coaster 30 which flared portion provides an uninterrupted annular recess 33 between the coaster and a beverage container, which container may, as stated before, be a bottle, drinking glass, can or the like.

The radially inward edges of pleats 31 contact and grip a container in the same manner as pleats 16 and fluid that enters recess 33 passes downwardly between the coasters wall and the container through openings 35 into the space 19 as explained above in reference to coaster 10.

Rim 3?. is provided with a beaded portion 36 to facilitate the molding of the coaster, to improve its appearance and to provide a degree of rigidity against collapsing of the rim when the pleats are spread by forcing a container into the coaster.

The present invention has been described in relation to its use with beverage containers but it is to be understood that the invention contemplates the use of the cuplike body described for protective means for vases, flower pots and the like. It will be obvious to those familar with the art that the coasters described are adapted to fit objects of generally similar shape and of limited variation in size.

The detailed description of the particular embodiments of the invention described herein is not to be construed as limiting the invention thereto. The invention includes all features of patentable novelty residing in the foregoing description and the accompanying drawing.

What is claimed as new and useful is:

1. In a coaster of the character described, a one-piece body composed of rubber-like material, said body being of general cup-shape and comprising a substantially flat base having cushioning ribs formed on the upper face thereof, a sinuous sidewall rising from said base and first curving outwardly adjacent the base and then inwardly to provide a space into which liquid may collect, and then curving outwardly to a rim, said inwardly curved portion and the latter mentioned outwardly curved portion of saidsidewall being formed with. numerous common longitudinally extending pleats, said pleats being triangular in cross section whereby a bellows type sidewall is provided, the radially inner edges only of said pleats being adapted to contact and grip the outer surface of an object to which the coaster is removably attached whereby numerous passageways are defined by said outer surface and the wall of the coaster through which passageway fluid may flow downwardly into said space. l. a

2. In a one-piece coaster of vthe charaeter described comprising, a round cup-like body composed entirely of a rubber like material, said body having a flat base with at least one cushioning rim formed on the upper face thereof, a sinuous sidewall rising from-said base; said sidewall having a first extent adjacent said base curving radially and axially outwardly, and then merging into a second extent curving radially and axially inwardly, said second extent merging into a third extent that curves radially and axially outwardly to a beaded edge rim of 4 said body; the upper portion and the lower portion only of said second and third extent respectively being formed with numerous common pleats that are triangular in cross section and extending longitudinally of the coaster and being adapted to frietionally engage the outer surface of an object with which said coaster is being used.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,665,821 Scofield Apr. 10, 1928 1,921,682 Loeber Aug. 8, 1933 1,957,263 Gray May 1, 1934 2,115,654 Swotford Apr. 26, 1938 2,205,687 Elsaesser June 25, 1940 2,727,645 Dore Dec. 20, 1955 2,731,056 Anson Jan. 17, 1956 2,823,422 Schneider Feb. 18, 1958 2,955,722 Antonious Oct. 11, 1960 FOREEGN PATENTS 191,611 Great Britain Jan. 18, 1923 781,338 Great Britain Aug. 21, 1957 

